Brava, Valentine
Release date: 2010 / 328 pages
Synopsis (from the back cover): When Valentine’s grandmother begins a new life in Italy, she places Valentine and her nemesis, her brother Alfred, “the Prince,” as partners at the Angelini Shoe Company, makers of handcrafted wedding shoes since 1903. A once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity takes Valentine from the winding streets of Greenwich Village to the sun-kissed cobblestones of Buenos Aires, where she unearths a long-buried secret and finds herself torn between a past love that nurtured her and a new one that promises to sustain her…
First Sentence: The most magical thing happened on the morning of my grandmother’s wedding in Tuscany.
Review: When TLC contacted me about reading and reviewing Trigiani’s latest, I jumped at the chance. I had never read any of the author’s previous works, but I knew from the excitement surrounding her latest effort and the upcoming Lifetime Movie of one of her earlier works that she must have many satisfied readers. Plus, I had a hunch that there might be a happy ending, and who isn’t in the mood for that! So, I approached this review as a reader who had no experience with the author and her much-beloved Valentine Roncalli and hoped my inexperience wouldn’t detract from my enjoyment.
Happily, my first experience with Valentine was not a disappointment. The lush Italian — and NYC — setting, the loving, quirky family, the complicated love interest, the independent heroine, learning to live according to her heart and mind were all a delightful diversion for a few lovely hours. Beyond the character of Valentine, I couldn’t help but embrace her parents, her prickly brother, her mysterious, secret cousin, and her BFF, Gabriel. I never felt at a disadvantage joining the party mid-swing and felt as if I had known the characters all along.
So, as the holiday season fast approaches, I can enthusiastically recommend this delightful diversion to anyone who needs a respite from “real life” family drama and a guaranteed happy ending! Interested? Please leave me a comment and I will choose a lucky winner by the weekend!
And, for anyone interested in a serious diversion — as in seven days in Italy — be sure to check out the free trip Harper Collins is giving away in honor of the paperback release of Brava, Valentine!
For other reviews, check out the following sites:
Tuesday, November 9th: Sara’s Organized Chaos
Wednesday, November 10th: Peeking Between the Pages
Thursday, November 11th: Rundpinne
Monday, November 15th: Calico Critic
Wednesday, November 17th: Write Meg
Thursday, November 18th: Dolce Bellezza
Monday, November 22nd: Book Club Classics!
Tuesday, November 23rd: Books Like Breathing
Tuesday, November 30th: Til We Read Again
Thursday, December 2nd: Jo-Jo Loves to Read!
Tuesday, December 7th: Hospitable Pursuits
Wednesday, December 8th: Book Reviews by Molly
Thursday, December 9th: Jenny Loves to Read
Wednesday, December 15th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
Thursday, December 16th: Teresa’s Reading Corner
Monday, December 20th: Debbie’s Book Bag
Please count me in for this book as a lovely respite from all the other ‘stuff’ in life that is so real and sometimes painful. I’d love to read this! Thanks, as always!
Sounds like a good beach read after the season! A nice idea.
Your site is not the only one to say it’s wonderful. Please enter me, thanks.
ME please:) And if we don’t hear from you…HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Count me in.
Sounds like a vacation in a book.
I lived in Italy in my younger days so any chance to go back to Italy even through pages in a book would be such a lovely adventure. Thank you for another chance and Happy Thanksgiving to you.
I read some of earlier works, but none of the Valentine books – count me in as well!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I’ve read the other Valentine books and would love to follow this plucky heroine in another adventure!
Please enter me and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
This sounds like my family – quirky, loud, and Italian.
Thanks for being a part of the tour. I’m glad your first experience with Trigiani was a good one!